Africans on the Internet: Maghreb most sex obsessed (2006):
Even homosexuality, which is illegal in most Muslim and African
countries, spurs much interest in Muslim Africa. While the search word
"gay" is dominated by Latin Americans, it is mainly Filipinos and Saudi
Arabians looking for "gay sex". The African "gay sex" list is topped by
Kenyans, Tanzanians, Namibians, Zimbabweans and South Africans. In the
francophone world, however, Algerians and Moroccans by far top the
world's search for "la homosexualité". Algerians also by
distance top the search for the "sexe gay", with the French and the
Moroccans being somewhat more timid on the issue.

Bloggers
in the Maghreb debated homosexuality and its place in society and
online, and discussed the state of the upcoming elections in Algeria (2007):
In a post about intolerance, Hou-Hou blog wrote, "what I found
paradoxical and sad is that the communities that suffer the most from
intolerance, discrimination, racism, marginalisation, incomprehension,
xenophobia… are themselves the most intolerant, racist and ignorant
when it comes to differences. When an Arab is categorised as a
terrorist, when he is discriminated against or stigmatised by others
(which happens a lot), he thunders indignantly against injustice,
intolerance and racism. However the same people are the first to
proudly declare themselves homophobes and scream loud and strong:
'death to gays'." ...

A Boy to Be Sacrificed
(2012): In the Morocco of the 1980s, where homosexuality did not, of
course, exist, I was an effeminate little boy, a boy to be sacrificed, a
humiliated body who bore upon himself every hypocrisy, everything left
unsaid. By the time I was 10, though no one spoke of it, I knew what
happened to boys like me in our impoverished society; they were
designated victims, to be used, with everyone’s blessing, as easy sexual
objects by frustrated men. And I knew that no one would save me — not
even my parents, who surely loved me. For them too, I was shame, filth. A
“zamel.” ...

Moroccan Queers Observe National LGBT Day
(2010): The following is a report on the observance of national LGBT
day in Morocco, written by Karim Al-Samiti, an active member of the
Moroccan LGBT group Kifkif and one of its founders. Karim is also on
the editorial board of Mithly, a Moroccan LGBT monthly publication in
Arabic and French (http://www.mithly.net/). The Arabic version of this
report is posted on Kifkif’s website
(http://www.gaymaroc.net/ar/national/5140–19-). As part of our ongoing
effort to promote the work of our partners, IGLHRC presents an English
translation of the report. On October 23, 2010, LGBT Moroccans held a
ceremony in the capital city, Rabat, to observe Moroccan national LGBT
day, which is usually celebrated on October 19. This year’s ceremony
was attended by Kifkif members from across the Kingdom, and several
members of the group from overseas. The ceremony continued throughout
Saturday evening and was packed with various activities. The highlight
of the event was a panel discussion, open to all participants, to
discuss problems and challenges individuals face because of their
sexual orientation, which prevents them from living in peace and
safety, free from fear of symbolic or actual violence. All participants
also expressed hope that the government of Morocco would allow the
Kifkif group to work on the ground, given that the group represents an
important segment of the Moroccan population. Based on the discussion
of the panel, it was decided that three members of the group would
draft a letter for submission to the authorities. The letter will alert
the officials to the widespread human rights violations of the citizens
due to their different sexual or emotional orientation and will remind
them of standards set forth by various international treaties on human
rights to which the Moroccan government is a signatory... - Defiant gay and lesbian activists gather in Morocco (2010): Members of Morocco's nascent gay group, Kifkif, held activities for their national LGBT Day in the capital, last week.

Morocco’s gays come out of the shadows
(2009): Going against the advice of the authorities, a Moroccan
association is organising a conference on homosexuality in Marrakesh.
Moroccan society might be on the move, but the government is finding it
hard to follow. In February a French feminist NGO called Ni Putes Ni
Soumises (Neither Whores Nor Submissive) was banned from setting up a
branch in the country, causing outrage amongst activists. Today, it's a
homosexual association that's in trouble. Members of "Kifkif" (which
literally means "same same" in both Arabic and in French slang), are
attempting to get homosexuality recognised in Moroccan society. The
organisation, based in Spain, is planning a conference in Marrakesh on
April 15. In response, the minister of the interior has sworn to fight
all acts which "aim to undermine our religious and moral values",
adding that the authorities and the police will be on watch to repress
any "demonstration of an immoral nature". Kifkif however plans to
go ahead with the conference... even if it has to take place behind
closed doors... - Les homosexuels mettent à l'épreuve la démocratie marocaine (2009, Translation):
Après quatre ans de clandestinité, l’association des gays
marocains « Kifkif » (Egaux), basée à Madrid,
veut aujourd’hui sortir du placard, comme le laisse entendre son
coordinateur général, Samir Bergachi.

Anti-Gay Sentiment in Morocco Can't Stop Elton John
(2010): Music fans around the world love Elton John -- even in
Morocco, an Islamic nation where being gay has been punishable with
jail time. But when John, 63, headlined at Morocco's largest music
festival on Wednesday night, he created some serious tensions in the
North African nation. Morocco has the same sort of anti-homosexuality
laws as most Islamic countries -- "homosexual acts" can be sentenced
with up to 3 years in prison -- although authorities are reportedly not
strict about enforcing them. Still, the country's largest Islamic
political group wasn't shy about voicing their disapproval of the
"Rocket Man" singer. "We're a rather open party, but promoting
homosexuality is completely unacceptable," a spokesman told the
Associated Press. He added that an Elton John performance could be a
bad influence on Moroccan youth, by encouraging homosexual behavior.
(Like playing the piano and singing? Seriously, it's not like he's
making out with his boyfriend onstage. But we digress.) While
conservative officials pushed for a ban against Elton John, the show's
organizers refused to change their line-up..

Sexual Values in a Moroccan Town (1993):
In Zawiya, various forms of homoerotic play, including nude swimming
and group masturbation, were reported as fairly common for boys in the
early teen years. Older males sometimes engage in homosexual acts,
sometimes including interfemoral and anal intercourse, but these young
people do not think of themselves as homosexuals but rather as going
through a phase. Homosexuality in adulthood seems to be rare and is
still considered shameful by most Moroccans. Separate terms are used
for the partner who plays the active and the passive role in
intercourse, and the term for the passive participant (zamel) is an
insult and a frequently seen graffito on walls near Moroccan
schoolyards. In contrast to what we heard from young men, most young
women in Zawiya seemed never to have considered the possibility of
female homosexuality, and both sexes stated that lesbian relationships
were very rare.

Homosexualité
au Maroc: Religion, Famille. Société(Translation). (Ce texte,
développé, accompagné d’un sondage sur l’homosexualité
au Maroc et d’une nouvelle intitulé : "Joseph" va être publié
en 2002.) - Gay
Morocco: Myths and Realities (2010). - Iran: Morocco 'gay association' irks hardliners:
An Iranian news agency linked to the country's hardline Islamist
establishment has assailed Morocco for what it says is the North
African state's "promotion of homosexuality and paedophilia". In an
editorial, Taghrib criticised what it said was the Moroccan
government's failure to prevent a group of homosexuals from forming an
association. "In Morocco, an Islami country, homsexuality has become an
accepted reality to such an extent that it risks becoming a secular
state without faith like Western nations". "Morocco risks becoming a
new Sodom”, the Taghrib editorial said...

Rachid
O. Jeune écrivain marocain parmi les plus prometteurs: Né
en 1970, après des études à Marrakech, il séjourne
à Paris. En 2000, il a été accueilli comme pensionnaire
de la Villa Médicis gérée par la Fondation de France
à Rome. Le Maroc qu’il raconte dans ses romans est celui de l’homosexualité
décrite de la façon la plus candide. - New prison sentence for editor in Morocco:
Mr Tadili has been convicted for reporting in a 9 April article
headlined "Homosexuality and the political class in Morocco" that
police surprised a government Minister in a homosexual act in a beach
resort in the north of the country. He did not name the Minister, but
it was clear he was alluding to the Economy Minister. The article was
questioning the morality of the Minister. While homosexuality is widely
practiced in Morocco - in particular in holiday resorts, where
men-to-men encounters are openly displayed - it remains a social taboo
and is generally considered bad moral... - L’éventuelle homosexualité d’un ministre déchaîne les passions au Maroc(Translation):
Cet outing qualifié par le ministre concerné de
diffamation rappelle deux choses: l’homosexualité fait l’objet
d’un sérieux tabou au Maroc..

Bousfiha S, Fdaïl M, Mekouar (2006). Male Prostitution in Morocco. PDF
Download.
The purpose of this project was to determine what Moroccan people think
of male prostitution... Surveys were distributed randomly in order to
collect people’s perceptions and opinions about the issue. The surveyed
population was divided into two sub-samples, thirty AUI students and
thirty outsiders. The difference between these two sub-samples helped
the team to compare the perceptions of highly educated people with ones
of ordinary Moroccans who are statistically less educated than AUI
students. The interviews were conducted to provide the team with the
physical and psychological and social effects of male prostitution on
male sex workers. The results illustrate people’s perceptions and
demonstrate that they are quite inaccurate.

ScotMUN 2011: Human Rights Council: Position Papers: The Rights to Asylum for Homosexuals: Nigeria:
Homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria, with varying penalties. Within the
12 states that adopted Shari'a law, it is an offence punishable by
death by stone; in the remaining, homosexual acts between men are
illegal and may be punished by jail terms of up to 14 years under
Chapter 21 of Nigeria's Criminal Code, entitled "Offences against
Morality". Female to female sexual acts are illegal in the 12 northern
states, the maximum punishment for such acts are whipping and/or
imprisonment. Most recently, a bill outlawing same-sex marriage and
establishing criminal penalties for witnessing or assisting same-sex
marriages was passed in 2008. The implementation of these laws is in
dispute and even after investigation, human rights groups cannot say
with precision how many sentences were handed down. Despite the
emergence of various interest groupings, Nigerian citizens still hold a
very conservative view on sexual orientation, with a strong 97 % of
residents rejecting homosexuality, according to the 2007 "Pew Global
Attitudes Project". Not surprisingly, treatment by authorities and
society is reported as hostile and marked by acts of violence, forcing
many homosexuals to hide their identity or to flee the country.

In Algeria, a gay blog breaks boundaries (2011): Pioneering
Algerian blogger ZIZOU runs and writes ZIZOU’s Magazine, which is one
of the most prominent and popular Arabic-language blogs for the LGBT
community, focusing on everything from human rights and politics to
entertainment (http://zizoumag.blogspot.com/).
As part of an ongoing series highlighting creative tools used by sexual
rights activists globally, IGLHRC asked ZIZOU about the importance of
blogging for LGBT activism... A blog for me is an investment in freedom that benefits from the World
Wide Web, which is beyond government censorship. Blogging allows me to
discuss political, social, and frank personal issues that don’t
otherwise reach people through other channels in a simple and funny
(sometimes cynical) way..

Homosexuality, Tunisian Style
(2009): In Tunesia, the issue of gay identity is complicated by the
country's long history of European tourism, including sexual tourism.
Thanks chiefly to some earlier Western travelers, young Tunisian men
tend to assume that any single guy of European heritage is looking for
vacation sex and is willing to pay the going rate. Many of these men
might be called, in a Western expression, "gay for pay." The fact that
they're willing to have sex with a Westerner for money does not disturb
their heterosexual identity in the least--particularly if they're going
to play the active role. The presence of hustlers on the streets and
beaches of Tunisia is so prevalent and remarked-upon, including by
Tunisians, that it has become the subject of a Tunisian film, Nouri
Bouzid's Bezness (1992)... The Cafe de Paris was largely frequented by
men and had a reputation for being a place for Westerners and Tunisians
to connect. I frequented the establishment because it was one of the
only places in Tunisia where I could experience some semblance of a gay
culture, but I had to learn to cope with the daily propositions. The
pitch usually began with "Bonjour!" and progressed to a request for a
coffee, ending with me either paying my check and fleeing or simply
ignoring the harmless if sometimes annoying intrusion. Even when my
partner came to visit me in Tunis, we still found ourselves being
propositioned--as a couple. (I learned eventually not to make eye
contact with any man on the street, as it could be mistaken as an
invitation.)... When visiting the resort city of Sousse, while walking
along the beach one afternoon, I was approached by a boy who seemed no
older than fourteen. Instead of simply ignoring him, this time, I
scolded him (in French), saying that I was old enough to be his father.
I then asked him what other Tunisians would think of me--and him--had
they seen us together sitting at a cafe... One of my colleagues at the
university, now a grandfather, once confided to me that, in his youth
and even young adulthood, he had in fact had sex with other men--even
Jews! (Afraid of where the conversation might lead, I never disclosed
to him my gay identity.) To my colleague, as he further disclosed, a
beautiful body is a beautiful body, whether it belonged to a man or a
woman, and availing oneself of sensual pleasure with a person of either
sex was as natural as eating Tunisia's succulent succulent
(sŭk`yələnt), any fleshy plant that belongs to one of many diverse
families, among them species of cactus, aloe, stonecrop, houseleek,
agave, and yucca. figs, oranges, dates, and pomegranates... While
living in Tunisia, I had a visit from a Parisian friend, Jacques, who
had no qualms about renting hustlers. As a result of his visit, I
learned of another cafe on the avenue, one even more active than the
Cafe de Paris. I also learned that there are hotels that rent by the
hour, where the management is fully aware of what's going on What's
Going On...

Gays in Tunisia (2005):
In Tunisia the subject is taboo ! I mean publically , i have never
heard about a Tunisian gay movement, event or structure ? "Miboun" (
gay in tunisian) is perceived as an offending bad word. Im really
curious to know about the gay situation in Tunisia? I tried to do some
research on the subject asking the few( self proclaimed) gays that i
know or have met. The majority is facing discrimination and rejection
mainly from their families. It's also interesting to see that people in
Tunisia make big difference between the active and the passive
ones--passives are more subject to discrimination or rejection. I also
know few places where Tunisian gays meet ( such as some cafés on
the Bourguiba avenue or medina hammams or the existence of a Tunisian
gay yahoogroup. In the touristic cities you can also see some gay
prostitution ( young tunisian with older european men). I also
discovered that many gays have wives and children and that they are
having a secret life in parallel. In my opinion being homosexual is a
sexual orientation and nothing else... in order to satisfy this
orientation gays may follow a different lifestyle but they should not
be subject to any discrimination or stigma... - Tunisie : un Français raconte son incarcération pour homosexualité(Translation).

HIV and gay in Tunisia: A twin taboo
(2008): Karim first learned he had HIV when he returned to his native
country from France in 2005. He was infected during an eight-year
relationship with a French man... He lives with his Tunisian boyfriend,
who is uninfected. They have protected sex. "I was sincere. I told him
the truth and he accepted. His attitude really moved me," said Karim..
Karim, one of 1,428 Tunisians who live with HIV, has learnt to keep his
status a tightly guarded secret in a society where fear, prejudice and
ignorance about the disease prevail...

Film explores being gay in Tunisia
(2009): A film, set to be released on the 7 April 2010, has brought the
topic of homosexuality back in the agenda in Tunisia. The first feature
film by Tunisia’s Mehdi ben Attia titled “Le Fil”, tackles the issue of
homosexuality between men within a male chauvinistic society where men
are supposed to be men and ancient traditions still rule... Now that he
is back home, living with his mother, he wants to “get out of the
closet” and tell her that he loves men. But unable to do so, he lies
and just gets himself into deeper and deeper water until he falls in
love with Bilal. With his young lover, everything becomes possible;
Malik breaks taboos, comes clean about his homosexuality and in the
heat of Tunisian summer finds the happiness he has always desired.... - Le Fil: Breaking Boundaries in Tunisia (2009). - L’homosexualité libératrice, rencontre avec Mehdi Ben Attia , réalisateur de Le Fil (2010, Translation):
Pourquoi avoir choisi le thème de l’homosexualité? Je
voulais d'abord raconter une histoire d'amour entre gars. C’est un
thème qui m’est cher et qui ne me paraît pas avoir
été beaucoup traité dans le cinéma arabe en
général, et tunisien en particulier. Et quand il l’a
été, il ne l’a pas toujours été avec la
finesse et la bienveillance requises. Mais je n’ai pas voulu parler de
l’homosexualité avec un grand «H», de la situation
des homosexuels en général en Tunisie. Si je dois
être provocant, je dirais que j’ai voulu en faire une solution
pour Malik... - Le réalisateur tunisien Mehdi Ben Attia s'attaque au tabou de l'homosexualité (2010, Video, Translation). - .Mehdi
Ben Attia : "Je n’ai pas voulu traiter l’homosexualité comme un
problème, je dirais presque comme une solution" (2010, Interview, Translation). - Ciné Gay : Le fil (extraits). - Coming Home
(2010): Once upon a time, a positive love story between two men (or two
women) was a cause for celebration. This scenario has become so common
that today's queer filmmakers need to find new ways to make this
material fresh or risk getting lost in the shuffle. The String (Le Fil,
2009), the debut film from director Mehdi Ben Attia, mostly rises to
the challenge.

Violations of the Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons in Tunisai: A Shadow Report
(2008): Tunisian penal code article 230 criminalizes same- sex acts
with a punishment of three years imprisonment. In criminalizing
same-sex acts, Tunisia is perpetuating a social stigma, and the
inevitable societal and legal discrimination of LGBT individuals. The
penal code creates a discriminatory environment for LGBT individuals
and perpetuates harmful stereotypes, whether or not the law is
systematically enforced. Under Article 26 of the ICCPR, Tunisia has
undertaken to guarantee to all persons protection from discrimination.
The Tunisian Constitution guarantees “all citizens have the same rights
and the same duties. They are equal before the law.” By failing to
recognize LGBT rights, and criminalizing same-sex acts, individuals are
not equal before the law based on their sexual orientation and gender
identity, and are not guaranteed the same rights... Homosexuality in
Tunisia exists, but remains hidden out of fear and the attachment of
social stigmas. Realites, a Tunisian newsmagazine, coined the
homosexual Tunisian’s motto as, “Vivons heureux, vivons caché,”
live happy, live hidden... Additionally, the government “routinely
monitored the activities, telephone, and Internet exchanges of
opposition, Islamist, human rights activists . . . and also placed some
under surveillance.” The government also blocked many of the domestic
and international human rights web sites, including Amnesty
International and Human Rights Watch.27 By denying access to human
rights information and organizations, the realization of LGBT rights
continues to be denied. LGBT individuals in Tunisia are not only
blocked in assembling their own organizations, but they are also denied
information and access to global organizations who could provide help
in their struggle for rights...

Taboos Melt Away, but Problems Persist (2007):
The situation of the press in Mauritania has improved significantly in
the past years. Yet despite the progress made, the sector still faces a
number of challenges including the training of journalists, which
remains sadly lacking... "Since the military coup we have entered a
period of relative freedom. Controversial issues such as slavery,
corruption, drug trafficking or the repression of Mauritania's
Sub-Saharan peoples are no longer taboo. Recently we published reports
on homosexuality and prostitution. It is a revolution to be able to
tackle issues like that," said Mamadou Sy, founder and publisher of
L'Eveil, Mauritania's first independent newspaper. The
Unexpected in Mauritania (2004):
Once Mamadou found out where I lived, there was no holding him back.
Not only did he come to visit without notice, as is the custom here,
but he usually brought a friend with him. This built up the network of
gay men I met. Meeting this way was a good way to meet men, as there
are no gay bars, social networks or known cruising areas for making
contacts... Even without Mamadou, however, there have still been other
opportunities, all of which are unexpected: the taxi driver who smiled
at me and put his hand in my lap; the hotel manager who offered to show
me more than a room; the kickboxing instructor who was with his wife
when we met, and lost no time telling me he gives massage... I want to
make myself abundantly clear that this is certainly not the liberated
life that Americans are used to leading. At the same time, though - at
least for me living in the capital - this is not so bad. Not bad at
all. Probably the most amazing part about the attention that I am
getting has to do with the fact that the people who seek me out are
significantly younger than I am. Most of them are men in their
twenties, thirties and forties. You may not believe this, but I was not
this hot a commodity in San Francisco! Nor do I think most 56-year-olds
are, except for their highly specialized niche market. Two factors
contribute significantly to my being in the position where I am. The
first is that I am in a culture in which age is revered and respected,
which is just the opposite of life in the United States...

LIBYA
/ LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA - Libya: two men arrested for "indecent acts" (2010, Alternate Link):
The police report said that the younger man dressed like a “girl”,
called himself Jumana, and was wearing make-up. It reported that
the cab driver said he was "fooled" by the man’s appearance, thinking
him a woman, despite that the two men confessed that they were having
“indecent acts" in the car. - Being gay under Gaddafi
(2011): In Libya, lesbian and gay sex are both illegal. Under Section
407.4 of the Libyan Constitution, both can be punished by five years
imprisonment. There seem to be no established Libyan LGBT
organisations, and any expatriates able to do so depart for Britain,
Spain, the Netherlands, France or the United States.. - Liberal Lybia (2004):
Moammar Gadhafi, the president of Libya, has made some anti-gay remarks
in the past but may be pleased to know that his gay citizens regard
Libya as liberal by comparison to neighbouring Egypt.